Review: "Wreck-It Ralph" DVD release offers something for everyone

Wreck-It Ralph may seem like just a kids movie, but it has something to offer all audiences (photo courtesy of the Walt Disney Company).

Every die-hard video game fan knows that movies based on video games tend to not do them justice. Most fans can recall the many travesties that actually made it to theaters, bringing up hopes and dreams only to be dashed by their poor scripting, filming and acting. Such travesties include “Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Mortal Kombat Annihilation,” “Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie” and way too many Pokemon movies to count.

It’s no surprise that such a history of terrible films have left fans feeling that video games can only truly be enjoyed on a console rather than on the big screen…until Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph” came out in November of 2012.

The movie has a “Toy Story” feel to it, presenting us with a world in which video games in an arcade are all interconnected. When an arcade closes, the characters within the games lead a life outside of their game. While the film pays homage to many classic and beloved video games through references and special appearances, it primarily centers on the journey of Wreck-It Ralph.

The character more commonly referred to as Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) is the antagonist of the popular retro arcade game known as “Fix-It Felix, Jr.” While his frightening and hulk-like exterior matches the role he plays in the video game, Ralph himself feels that just because he plays the bad guy doesn’t necessarily make him a “bad" guy.

In fact, he feels conflicted that not only is he treated as the bad guy in the game, but the other characters are also convinced that Ralph can’t aspire to be anything else.

It is for this reason that he decides to leave his game to go on a quest to earn honor and prove to everyone that he can be a good guy. Along the way, he runs into various other video game characters parodying popular video game archetypes such as Fix-It Felix, Jr. (Jack McBrayer), Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) and Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun (Jane Lynch). This all-star voice acting team help deliver great puns while keeping us on the edge of our seats during the film’s dramatic turns.

This film is a great watch for both children and adults. Reilly and Silverman are a great comedic duo. Their performance also has the ability to bring us to tears when the film takes a serious turn towards the end. Popular video game characters make occasional cameos, but the movie doesn’t rely on them to hold the audience’s attention. As a result, the focus remains on the main, well-constructed plot.

However, the greatest asset “Wreck-It Ralph” has to offer is its message: not letting others define you and loving yourself for who you are. It is a message that can resonate with both adults and children.

"Wreck-It Ralph” is a film everyone can enjoy, even those who are unfamiliar with the video game realm. It’s funny, it’s serious and it delivers a relatable and important message. Check it out on DVD or Blu-ray today!